Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
MOTORIZED TREADMILL WITH MOTOR BRAKING MECHANISM
AND METHODS OF OPERATING SAME
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No.
62/357,765, entitled "MOTORIZED TREADMILL WITH MOTOR BRAKING
MECHANISM AND METHODS OF OPERATING SAME," filed July 1, 2016.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to treadmills. More particularly, the
present disclosure
relates to motorized treadmills.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Treadmills enable a person to walk, jog, or run for a relatively long
distance in a
limited space. Treadmills can be used for physical fitness, athlete training
and therapeutic uses
for the treatment of medical conditions. It should be noted that throughout
this document, the
term "run" and variations thereof (e.g., running, etc.) in any context is
intended to include all
substantially linear locomotion by a person. Examples of this linear
locomotion include, but
are not limited to, jogging, walking, skipping, scampering, sprinting,
dashing, hopping,
galloping, side stepping, shuffling etc. The bulk of the discussion herein is
focused on training
and physical fitness, but persons skilled in the art will understand that all
of the structures and
methods described herein are equally applicable in a medical therapeutic
applications.
[0004] A person running generates force to propel themselves in a desired
direction. To
simplify this discussion, the desired direction will be designated as the
forward direction. As
the person's feet contact the ground (or other surface), their muscles
contract and extend to
apply a force to the ground that is directed generally rearward (i.e., has a
vector direction
substantially opposite the direction they desire to move). Keeping with
Newton's third law of
motion, the ground resists this rearwardly directed force from the person,
resulting in the
person moving forward relative to the ground at a speed related to the force
they are creating.
While the prior discussion relates solely to movement in the forward
direction, persons skilled
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in the art will understand that this can mean movement in any direction, for
example side to
side, backward/reverse, any desired direction.
[0005] To counteract the force created by the treadmill user so that the user
stays in a
relatively static fore and aft position on the treadmill, a running belt of a
treadmill is driven or
rotated (e.g., by a motor). Thus, in operation, the running belt moves at
substantially the same
speed as the user, but in the opposite direction. In this way, the user
remains in substantially
the same relative position along the treadmill while running.
SUMMARY
[0006] One embodiment relates to a treadmill. The treadmill includes a running
belt defining
a non-planar running surface, and a motor operatively coupled to the running
belt. According
to one configuration, the treadmill is operable in plurality of operating
modes to control a user
experience.
[0007] Another embodiment relates to a treadmill. The treadmill includes a
running belt
defining a substantially planar running surface, and a motor operatively
coupled to the running
belt. According to one configuration, the treadmill is operable in plurality
of operating modes.
[0008] Still another embodiment relates to of operating a motorized treadmill.
The method
includes: providing a treadmill having a running belt defining a non-planar
running surface and
a motor coupled to the running belt, the motor operable in a first operating
mode, a second
operating mode, a third operating mode, and a fourth operating mode;
responsive to receiving
an indication to operate the treadmill in a first operating mode, causing the
motor to disengage
from the running belt such that rotation of the running belt is caused solely
by a user of the
motorized treadmill; responsive to receiving an indication to operate the
treadmill in a second
operating mode, causing the motor to selectively drive rotation of the running
belt in a first
rotational direction and in a second rotational directional, the second
rotational direction
opposite the first rotational direction; responsive to receiving an indication
to operate the
treadmill in a third operating mode, causing the motor to output a holding
torque at a
predefined threshold speed value; and responsive to receiving an indication to
operate the
treadmill in a fourth operating mode, causing the motor to output a torque
assist force, the
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torque assist force configured to help rotate the running belt in addition to
a force applied by
the user to the running belt.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treadmill having a non-planar running
surface,
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the treadmill of FIG. 1 with most of
the coverings
removed, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the treadmill of FIG. 1 with most
of the
coverings removed, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the motor system of the treadmill of
FIG. 1, according
to an exemplary embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded assembly view of the motor system of the
treadmill of FIG. 1,
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a treadmill having a substantially
planar running
surface, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the treadmill of FIG. 6 with most of
the coverings
removed, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the treadmill of FIG. 1 with most
of the
coverings removed as well as the running belt, according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a top view of the treadmill of FIG. 8, according to an
exemplary
embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 10 is an exploded assembly perspective view of the motor system of
the
treadmill of FIG. 6 with most of the coverings removed, according to an
exemplary
embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the component view of the
treadmill in FIG. 10,
according to an exemplary embodiment.
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[0020] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the motor system of the treadmill of
FIG. 6,
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 13 is an exploded assembly view of the motor system of FIG. 12,
according to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 14 is an electrical schematic diagram for the treadmill of FIG. 1
or the treadmill
of FIG. 6, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of operating the treadmill of FIG. 1 or the
treadmill of FIG.
6 using the electrical schematic diagram of FIG. 14, according to an exemplary
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Referring to the Figures generally, a motorized or powered treadmill
operable in a
plurality of modes is disclosed according to various embodiments herein. The
motorized
treadmill includes a controller communicably coupled to a motor that is
operatively coupled to
a running belt, which defines a running surface upon which a user a may run.
According to the
present disclosure, the controller is structured to control or manage
operation of the motor to
enable operation of the treadmill in four operating modes: a non-motorized
mode, a motorized
mode, a brake mode, and a torque mode. In the non-motorized mode, the
controller disables a
holding torque of the motor to thereby allow the running belt to substantially
freely rotate (i.e.,
the motor provides no or little resistance to the rotation or movement of the
running belt such
that the running belt moves substantially freely). In this regard, the
treadmill may operate in a
similar manner to a manually-powered treadmill (i.e., motor-less treadmill)
where the speed of
the running belt is dictated by a variety of factors including the gait speed
of the user. In the
motorized mode, the user controls the speed of the running belt by providing
input to the
controller and the controller in turn implements the input from the user to
establish the desired
running belt speed with the treadmill. For example, the user may provide a
designation of 6.5
miles-per-hour (MPH), which the controller then directs the motor to cause the
running belt to
rotate at 6.5 MPH. In the brake mode, the controller is structured to control
the motor to apply
a braking force (i.e., holding torque) that resists rotational movement of the
running belt caused
by the user. In this regard, the user has to "fight" or "push" through the
resistance exerted by
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the motor to cause the running belt to rotate. In the torque mode, the
controller causes the
motor to implement a user-defined torque setting to provide an assistive force
to, in turn, cause
the running belt to rotate relatively easier than, for example, in the non-
motorized or brake
modes of operation. In one embodiment, the treadmill may be structured as a
substantially
planar treadmill whereby a running belt having a running surface upon which a
user may run is
substantially planar in nature. In another embodiment, the treadmill is
structured as a non-
planar or curved treadmill whereby a running belt running surface upon which a
user may run
is non-planar in nature (see, e.g., FIG. 1 herein).
[0025] Beneficially, the modes of operation enable the use of a single
treadmill to be adapted
for use with a variety of workout types and a variety of users of varying
fitness levels. For
example, users who desire weight training may find the brake mode of operation
desirable due
to the relatively high-resistance, strength conditioning aspect of this mode
of operation (i.e., the
pushing or pulling of the belt to overcome a braking force exerted on the
running belt). As
another example, users who desire aerobic, running exercises may like the
ability to manually
control the speed via the non-motorized mode of operation or to run at a
certain speed for a
certain amount of time via the motorized mode operation. As still another
example, users who
may be rehabilitating an injury, just getting into a workout routine, or who
simply want
assistance may find the torque mode of operation desirable. In this regard,
users of a variety of
skills and desires may each find the treadmill of the present disclosure
appealing. In this regard
and advantageously, the treadmill of the present disclosure may alleviate the
need for multiple
types of fitness or rehabilitation equipment because of the types of
rehabilitation routines or
exercises that may be possible due to the modes of operation described herein.
These and other
features and benefits of the present disclosure are described more fully
herein below.
100261 As mentioned above, the motorized treadmill may be structured as a
planar treadmill
or as a non-planar treadmill. In this regard, FIGS. 1-5 depict a non-planar
treadmill while
FIGS. 6-13 depict a planar treadmill, according to various embodiments. Each
of these
treadmill embodiments are firstly described before turning to the operational
modes of the
treadmill.
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100271 Accordingly, referring collectively now to FIGS. 1-5, a motorized non-
planar
treadmill 10 is shown according to an example embodiment. As shown, the
treadmill 10
includes a base 12, a handrail 14 mounted or coupled to the base 12, a display
device 16
coupled to the handrail 14, a running belt 30 that extends substantially
longitudinally along a
longitudinal axis 18, a pair of side panels 40 and 42 (e.g., covers, shrouds,
etc.) that are
provided on the right and left side of the base 12, a pair of rearward
positioned feet 50 (i.e.,
proximate the rear end 22), a pair of forward positioned feet 52 (i.e.,
proximate the front end
20), and a pair of wheels 54 (e.g., casters, rollers, etc.) positioned
proximate the front end 20).
The longitudinal axis 18 extends generally between a front end 20 and a rear
end 22 of the
treadmill 10; more specifically, the longitudinal axis 18 extends generally
between the
centerlines of a front shaft and a rear shaft, which will be discussed in more
detail below. The
side panels 40 and 42 may shield the user from the components or moving parts
of the treadmill
10. The base 12 is supported by multiple support feet 50 and 52, while the
pair of wheels 54
enable a user to grip a handle (not shown) of the base 12 to relatively easily
move the treadmill
10. In use, the wheels 54 of the treadmill 10 are supported above a support
surface; the wheels
54 may contact the ground to thereby permit the user to easily roll the entire
treadmill 10 when
desired. It should be noted that the left and right-hand sides of the
treadmill and various
components thereof are defined from the perspective of a forward-facing user
standing on the
running surface of the treadmill 10.
[0028] A number of devices, both mechanical and electrical, may be used in
conjunction with
or in cooperation with a treadmill 10. FIG. 1, for example, shows a display
device 16 adapted
to calculate and display performance data relating to operation of the
treadmill 10 according to
an exemplary embodiment. The display device 16 may include any type of display
device
including, but not limited to, touchscreen display devices, physical input
devices in
combination with a screen, and so on. The display device 16 may include an
integrated power
source (e.g., a battery), or be electrically coupleable to an external power
source (e.g., via an
electrical cord that may be plugged into a wall outlet). The feedback and data
performance
analysis from the display may include, but are not limited to, speed, time,
distance, calories
burned, heart rate, etc. According to other exemplary embodiments, other
displays, cup
holders, cargo nets, heart rate grips, arm exercisers, TV mounting devices,
user worktops,
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and/or other devices may be incorporated into the treadmill. Further and as
shown, the display
device 16 may include a plurality of input devices (e.g., buttons, switches,
etc.) that enable a
user to provide instructions to the treadmill 10 and to control the operation
thereof.
[0029] As shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-3, the base 12 includes a frame 60
which is an
assembly of elements such as longitudinally-extending, opposing side members,
shown as a
right-hand side member 61 and a left hand side member 62 and one or more
lateral or cross-
members 63 extending between and structurally coupling the side members 61 and
62. The
frame 60 is adapted to support a front shaft assembly 70 positioned near a
front end 20 of the
frame 60, a rear shaft assembly 80 positioned near the rear end 22 of frame
60, a plurality of
bearings 90 coupled to and extending generally longitudinally along the right
side member 61
of the frame 60, a plurality of bearings 91 coupled to and extending generally
longitudinally
along the left-hand side member 62 of the frame 60. The pluralities of
bearings 90, 91 are
substantially opposite each other about the longitudinal axis 18, and a
tension assembly 100
coupled to the frame 60. Each of these components is described herein below.
[0030] The front shaft assembly 70 includes a pair of front running belt
pulleys 72
interconnected with, and preferably directly mounted to, a shaft 71, while the
rear shaft
assembly 80 includes a pair of rear running belt pulleys 82 interconnected
with, and preferably
directly mounted to, a shaft 81. In operation, multiple bearing assemblies 75
may rotationally
couple the front shaft assembly 70 and rear shaft assembly 80 to the frame 60.
The bearing
assemblies 75 may be structured as any type of bearing assembly configured to
support and
enable rotation of the shaft assemblies relative to the frame 60 (e.g., thrust
bearings, etc.). The
front and rear running belt pulleys 72, 82 are configured to facilitate
movement/rotation of the
running belt 30. As the front and rear running belt pulleys 72, 82 are
preferably fixed relative
to shafts 71 and 81, respectively, rotation of the front and rear running belt
pulleys 72, 82
causes the shafts 71, 81 to rotate in the same direction. The front and rear
running belt pulleys
72, 82 may be formed of any material sufficiently rigid and durable to
maintain shape under
load. According to one embodiment, the material is relatively lightweight so
as to reduce the
inertia of the pulleys 72, 82. The pulleys 72, 82 may be formed of any
material having one or
more of these characteristics (e.g., metal, ceramic, composite, plastic,
etc.). According to the
exemplary embodiment shown, the front and rear running belt pulleys 72, 82 are
formed of a
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composite-based material, such as a glass-filled nylon, for example, Grivory
GV-5H Black
9915 Nylon Copolymer available from EMS-GRIVORY of Sumter, SC 29151, which may
save
cost and reduce the weight of the pulleys 72, 82 relative to metal pulleys. To
prevent a static
charge due to operation of the treadmill 10 from building on a pulley 72, 82
formed of
electrically insulative materials (e.g., plastic, composite, etc.), an
antistatic additive, for
example Antistat 10124 from Nexus Resin Group of Mystic, CT 06355, maybe may
be blended
with the GV-5H material. Alternatively, the pulleys 72, 82 may be formed of a
relatively heavy
or high mass material (e.g., metal, ceramic, composite, etc.) if it is desired
to create a support
structure which has a relatively high inertia as the user generates rotation
of the running belt.
[0031] The pluralities of bearings 90, 91 are attached or coupled to the frame
10 and
structured to support or at least partially support the running belt 30 and to
facilitate movement
thereof. In this regard, the pluralities of bearings 90, 91 may be arranged to
facilitate a desired
shape or contour of the running surface 32 of the running belt 30. More
particularly, the
pluralities of bearings 90, 91 may be arranged in a desired shape or contour
of the running
surface 32 due to how the pluralities of bearings 90, 91 are coupled to the
frame 60 (e.g., in
such a way to form a non-planar profile). Accordingly, the running surface 30
assumes a shape
that substantially corresponds to the shape of the profile of the pluralities
of the bearings 90, 91.
The bearings 90, 91 are configured to rotate to thereby decrease the friction
experienced by the
running belt 30 as the belt moves or rotates relative to the frame 10. The
tension assembly 100
may be structured to selectively adjust a position of the rear shaft assembly
80 to add, reduce,
and generally control a tension applied to the belt 30. An exemplary structure
of the bearings
90, 91 and tension assembly 100, components that may be included therewith,
and
arrangements therefor (e.g., relative positions on the treadmill) is described
in U.S. Pat. App.
No. 62/237,990, filed October 6, 2015. In this regard, the tension assembly
may cooperate with
a slot (e.g., slot 91 of U.S. Pat. App. No. 62/237,990) that is curve-shaped,
linear-shaped, or
non-linear shaped.
[0032] As shown, the running belt 30 is disposed about the front and rear
running belt pulleys
72, 82, and at least partially supported by at least some of the pluralities
of bearings 90, 91.
The running belt 30 includes a plurality of slats 31 and defines a non-planar
running surface 32
(e.g., curved running surface); hence, the "non-planar" treadmill 10. An
example structure of
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the slats 31 and shape of the running surface 32 is described in U.S. Pat.
App. No. 62/237,990,
filed October 6, 2015.
[0033] As also shown, the treadmill 10 according to the present disclosure
includes a motor
system 150. The motor system 150 is structured to selectively provide and not
provide power
or rotational force to the running belt 30 to operate the treadmill 10 in
accordance with the non-
motorized mode of operation, motorized mode of operation, brake mode of
operation, and
torque mode of operation. As shown, the motor system 150 includes a motor 151
attached or
coupled to the frame 60 (particularly, the left-hand side member 62) by a
bracket 76 (e.g.,
housing, support member, etc.). The motor 151 includes an output shaft 152,
which is rotatably
coupled to a drive pulley 153 that is rotatably coupled to a driven pulley 154
by a motor belt
155. As shown, the motor system 150 is in cooperation with the front shaft
assembly 70. In
particular, the driven pulley 154 is interconnected with (e.g., directly
mounted on) the front
shaft 71, such that rotation of the driven pulley 154 causes rotation of the
front shaft 71 (and, in
turn, the front running belt pulleys 72). However, in other embodiments, the
motor system 150
may be in cooperation with the rear shaft assembly (e.g., the driven pulley
may be rotationally
coupled to the rear shaft) and/or multiple motor systems may be included
whereby the motor
systems are included in various positions with various connections to various
components of
the treadmill. While the present invention uses a motor belt 155 to translate
the drive
force/braking action of the motor to the running belt, it is to be understood
that any
conventional means for interconnecting the motor to the running belt including
gears, chains,
and the like may be used in addition to or in place of the motor belt 155.
[0034] The motor 151 may be structured as any type of motor that may be used
to selectively
power (e.g., impart force to or otherwise drive rotation of) the running belt
30. In this regard,
the motor 151 may be an alternating current (AC) motor or a direct current
(DC) motor and be
of any power rating desired. In one embodiment, the motor 151 is structured as
brushless DC
motor in order to be able to selectively provide a driving force which is
useable in the
motorized mode and a holding torque, which is useable in the brake mode of
operation
(described in more detail herein below). Further, the motor 151 may receive
electrical power
from an external source (e.g., from a wall outlet) or from a power source
integrated into the
treadmill, such as a battery. Additionally, the motor 151 may be solely a
motor or be a
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motor/generator combination unit (i.e., capable of generating electricity).
Similarly, the drive
pulley 153, driven pulley 154, and belt 155 may be structured as any type of
pulley and belt
combination. For example, in one embodiment, the belt 155 may be structured as
a toothed
belt. In another example, the belt 155 may be structured as a v-shaped belt.
In yet another
example, the belt 155 may be structured as a substantially smooth belt. In
each configuration,
the configuration of the pulleys 153, 154 may correspond (e.g., a v-shaped
pulley to correspond
with a v-shaped belt) with the structure of the belt 155. Moreover and as
shown, the drive
pulley 153 is of a relatively larger size (e.g., diameter) than the driven
pulley 154. In another
embodiment, the driven pulley 154 is of a relatively larger size (e.g.,
diameter) than the drive
pulley 153. In still other embodiments, the driven pulley 154 and drive pulley
153 are of
substantially similar sizes (e.g., diameters). Differing diameters of the
drive pulley 153 to
driven pulley 154 differs the speed differential between the two pulleys,
which may be used to
achieve a desired speed ratio for the treadmill 10. Thus, those of ordinary
skill in the art will
readily recognize and appreciate the wide variety of structural configurations
of the motor
system 150, with all such variations intended to fall within the scope of the
present disclosure.
100351 Before turning to operation of the motor system 150, as mentioned
above, the systems
and methods described herein may also be implemented with planar or
substantially planar
motorized treadmills. Therefore, turning now to FIGS. 6-13, a planar motorized
treadmill 200
is shown according to various example embodiments. The planar motorized
treadmill 200 may
be substantially similar as the non-planar motorized treadmill 10 except that
the running
surface of the treadmill 200 is substantially planar in nature (e.g., flat,
not-curved, etc.). While
the incline of the running surface may change with either the treadmill 10 or
treadmill 200, the
characteristic planar feature of the treadmill 200 remains constant. Thus, to
ease explanation of
the treadmill 200, similar reference numbers are used with FIGS. 6-13 as were
used in FIGS. 1-
with the treadmill 10 except with the prefix "2" (with the notable exception
of reference
number 200 being used from the treadmill of FIGS. 6-13 compared to the
reference number 10
for the treadmill of FIGS. 1-5). In this regard, similar reference numbers are
used to denote
similar components unless context indicates otherwise or unless explicitly
described otherwise.
100361 In this regard and referring collectively to FIGS. 6-13, the planar
motorized treadmill
200 includes a base 212, a handrail 214 mounted or coupled to the base 212, a
display device
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216 coupled to the handrail 214, a running belt 230 that extends substantially
longitudinally
along a longitudinal axis 218, a pair of side panels 240 and 242 (e.g.,
covers, shrouds, etc.) that
are provided on the right and left side of the base 212, and a frame 260
including a right-hand
side member 261 and a left-hand side member 262 disposed substantially
longitudinally
opposite the right-hand side member 261. One or more cross-members, such as
cross-members
263, may be used to join, couple, or otherwise connect the right-hand and left-
hand side
members 261, 262 together. The longitudinal axis 218 extends generally between
a front end
220 and a rear end 222 of the treadmill 200. The side panels 240 and 242 may
shield the user
from the components or moving parts of the treadmill 200. Like the treadmill
10, it should be
noted that the left and right-hand sides of the treadmill and various
components thereof are
defined from the perspective of a forward-facing user standing on the running
surface of the
treadmill 200. It should also be noted that similar support feet and wheels as
described herein
with respect to the treadmill 10 and in the related applications under the
cross-reference to
related applications section may also be included with the treadmill 200.
100371 Like the treadmill 10, the treadmill 200 includes a pair of front
running belt pulleys
272 coupled to, and preferably directly mounted to, a shaft 271, and a rear
shaft assembly 280
includes a pair of rear running belt pulleys 282 coupled to, and preferably
directly mounted to,
a shaft 281. The front and rear running belt pulleys 272, 282 are configured
to facilitate
rotational movement of the running belt 230, and may be rotationally coupled
to the frame 260
by multiple bearing assemblies 275. As the front and rear running belt pulleys
272, 282 are
preferably fixed relative to shafts 271 and 281, respectively, rotation of the
front and rear
running belt pulleys 272, 282 causes the shafts 271, 281 to rotate in the same
direction.
100381 As also shown, the treadmill 200 may include a plurality of bearings
290 coupled to
and extending longitudinally the right side member 261 of the frame 260, and a
plurality of
bearings 292 coupled to and extending longitudinally along the left-hand side
member 262 of
the frame 260 such that the pluralities of bearings 290, 291 are substantially
opposite each other
about the longitudinal axis 218. Relative to the pluralities of bearings 290,
291, the pluralities
of bearings 290, 291 are arranged in a substantially planar configuration to
at least partly
support the running belt 230 in the substantially planar
orientation/configuration.
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[0039] As shown, the running belt 230 is disposed about the front and rear
running belt
pulleys 272, 282, and at least partially supported by the bearings 290, 291.
The running belt
230 includes a plurality of slats 231 and defines a planar or substantially
planar running surface
232 (e.g., non-curved running surface); hence, the "planar" treadmill 10. An
example structure
of the slats 231 is described in U.S. Pat. App. No. 62/237,990, filed October
6, 2015. However,
in other embodiments, the running belt 230 and running belt 30 may be
constructed as an
endless belt, also referred to as a closed-loop treadmill or running belt
(e.g., a non-slat
embodiment). As also shown, the running belt 230 includes an endless belt 233,
which
interfaces with or engages with a front running belt and a rear running belt
pulley. Another
endless belt (not shown) engages with the other front running belt pulley and
rear running belt
pulley. The endless belts 233 may be supported by the plurality of bearings
290, 291,
respectively. Further details regarding example configurations of the endless
belts 233 are
provided in U.S. Pat. App. No. 14/832,708 and related applications. It should
be understood
that while not shown, the treadmill may incorporate an alternative to the slat
belt such as an
endless belt, like endless belt and described under the related applications
may also be used
with the running belt 30 of the non-planar treadmill 10.
[0040] Similar to the motorized treadmill 10, the treadmill 200 is motorized
and includes a
motor system 350. The motor system 350 is structured to selectively provide
power, to not
provide power, or to provide braking to resist rotational movement of the
running belt 230 as
the treadmill 200 operates in the non-motorized mode of operation, motorized
mode of
operation, brake mode of operation, and torque mode of operation. As shown,
the motor
system 350 includes a motor 351 attached or coupled to the frame 260
(particularly, the left-
hand side member 262) by a bracket 276 (e.g., housing, support member, etc.)
and has an
output shaft 352, a drive pulley 353, and a driven pulley 354 coupled to the
drive pulley 353 by
a motor belt 355. As shown, the motor system 350 is in cooperation with the
rear shaft
assembly 280. In particular, the driven pulley 354 is interconnected with
(e.g., directly
mounted on) the rear shaft 281, such that rotation of the driven pulley 354
causes rotation of the
rear shaft 281 (and, in turn, the rear running belt pulleys 282). However, in
other
embodiments, the motor system 350 may be in cooperation with the front shaft
assembly (e.g.,
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the driven pulley may be rotationally coupled to the rear shaft) and/or
multiple motor systems
may be included whereby the motor systems are included with the treadmill.
[0041] Like the motor 151, the motor 351 may be structured as any type of
motor that may be
used to selectively power (e.g., impart force to or otherwise drive rotation
of) the running belt
230. In one embodiment, the motor 351 is structured as brushless DC motor in
order to be able
to selectively provide resistance to rotation of the running belt in the form
of a holding torque,
which is useable in the brake mode of operation (described in more detail
herein below). In
this regard, the motor 351 may be an alternating current (AC) motor or a
direct current (DC)
motor and be of any power rating desired. Thus, the motor 351 may receive
electrical power
from an external source (e.g., from a wall outlet) or from a power source
integrated into or
included within the treadmill, such as a battery. Further, the motor 351 may
be solely a motor
or be a motor/generator combination unit. Similarly, the drive pulley 353,
driven pulley 354,
and belt 355 may be structured as any type of pulley and belt combination. For
example, in one
embodiment and as shown, the belt 355 may be structured as a toothed belt. In
another
example, the belt may be structured as a v-shaped belt. In yet another
example, the belt may be
structured as a substantially smooth belt. In each configuration, the
configuration of the pulleys
353, 354 may correspond to that of the belt 355 (e.g., a v-shaped pulley to
correspond with a v-
shaped belt). For example and as shown, the pulleys 353, 354 may be toothed to
mesh or
engage with the toothed belt 355. Moreover and as shown, the drive pulley 353
is of a
relatively smaller size (e.g., diameter) than the driven pulley 354. In
another embodiments, the
driven pulley 354 is of a relatively greater diameter than the drive pulley
353. In still other
embodiments, the driven pulley 354 and drive pulley 353 are of substantially
similar diameters.
Differing diameters of the drive pulley 353 to driven pulley 354 differs the
speed differential
between the two pulleys, which may be used to achieve a desired speed ratio
for the treadmill
10. Thus, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize and
appreciate the wide
variety of structural configurations of the motor system 350, with all such
variations intended
to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0042] Referring now to FIG. 14, a schematic diagram of an electrical system
400 useable
with either treadmill 10 or treadmill 200 is shown according to an example
embodiment. The
electrical system 400 may be structured to control various components of the
treadmill 10 and
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treadmill 200, track and store data regarding operation of the treadmill 10
and treadmill 200,
enable the exchange of data or information between various components of the
treadmill 10 and
treadmill 200 (e.g., heart rate data acquired from the handrails or
wirelessly), and/or otherwise
control or manage the providing of electrical power to one or more components
of the treadmill
or treadmill 200. Because the system 400 is useable with either treadmill 10
or treadmill
200, reference may be made to various components of the treadmill 10 or 200 to
aid
explanation. As shown, the system 400 is electrically configurable to be
useable with 120
VAC or 230 VAC line voltage, as shown with input power systems 402 and 404
respectively.
The input power systems 402, 404 may include an electrical cord that is
electrically adapted to
plug-into a wall outlet (or other electricity providing source) for receiving
120 VAC or 230
VAC, respectively. The input power systems 402, 404 are shown to include
various switches,
relays, transformers, and filters to modify, manage, or otherwise control the
electrical power
received from a power source (e.g., wall outlet). In other embodiments, only
one of the input
power systems 402 or 404 may be included with the treadmill. In the example
shown, an input
power system 410 is electrically coupleable to a 120 VAC power source (e.g.,
an American
wall outlet) to receive 120 VAC power. The received power may be useable to
drive or power
one or more components of the treadmill 10 or treadmill 200.
100431 As also shown, the system 400 includes a DC power supply 412, a
television circuit
420, a computer circuit 425, a display board 430, a motor controller 440, and
a controller 450
among various other components. The DC power supply 412 may be structured as
any DC
power supply and be independent from the AC power source (e.g., from input
power system
410) or used with the AC power source by using, e.g., a rectifier to convert
the AC voltage to
DC voltage, like shown in FIG. 14. The DC power supply 412 may be used to
power one or
more DC-powered electronics, such as the television circuit 420 and computer
circuit 425. The
television circuit 420 is structured to provide television, over the air or
through any other
auxiliary means (e.g., cable or satellite), to users of the treadmill 10 or
200. In this regard, the
television circuit 420 is shown to include a television 421 (e.g., display
device, monitor, etc.)
operatively coupled to a keypad controller 422 (e.g., remote, etc.), whereby
the keypad
controller 422 enables a user to control the television 421. In one
embodiment, the television
421 is included with the treadmill 10 or 200. In another embodiment, the
television 421 is a
CA 3029593 2020-03-17
separate component relative to the treadmill 10 or 200, such that the
television circuit 420
includes communication circuitry for coupling to the television 421. In
operation, the keypad
controller 422 may be disposed on the handrail 14 or 214, or any other
convenient location, that
enables a user to control the television 421. The computer circuit 425 is
shown to include a
computer 426. The computer circuit 425 is structured to facilitate the
communicable coupling
of the treadmill 10 or 200 to one or more computer electronics (e.g.,
smartphone, tablet
computer, heartrate monitor, fitness tracking device, etc.) to enable the
exchange of information
between the one or more computer electronics and the computer circuit 425. In
this regard,
computer circuit 425 may include any type of electrical coupling devices or
components (e.g.,
wireless transceivers such as a Bluetoothe transceiver, NFC transceiver, and
the like, wired
transceiver such as an Ethernet port or USB port, and/or any combination
thereof). It should be
understood that the computer circuit 425 and television circuit 420 may
include any other
additional and/or different components for performing the activities described
herein (e.g.,
filters, a memory device or other storage device, one or more processors,
etc.). It should also
be understood that the television circuit 420 and computer circuit 425 are
optional components,
which may be selectively included with the treadmill 10 or treadmill 200 based
on, for
example, a model of the treadmill or a desire of the producer/manufacturer.
100441 The display board 430 may be structured to enable the reception of an
input from a
user of the treadmill 10 or 200 and to provide outputs to the user (e.g.,
heart rate, distance, time
duration, set speed, incline setting, resistance setting for brake operation
mode, etc.).
Accordingly, the display board 430 may be included with display device 16 or
216. As shown,
the display board 430 is communicably and operatively coupled to a plurality
of sensors and
other input devices, shown as an emergency stop (e-stop) magnet 431, a heart
rate contact 432,
and a handrail switch assembly 433. The e-stop magnet 431 is structured to
instantly or nearly
instantly stop the motor 151, 351 of the treadmill 10 or 200 or,
alternatively, enable power to be
provided from the motor 151, 351 to the running belt 30, 230. In operation,
the e-stop magnet
may be selectively engageable (e.g., via magnetic force) with a magnet that is
tethered to the
treadmill 10, 200. When the magnetic is in contact with the e-stop magnet 431,
the circuit may
be closed to enable the. motor 151, 351 to selectively provide power to, e.g.,
drive the running
belt 30, 230. When the magnet is not in contact with the e-stop magnet 431,
the motor 151,
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351 may be disabled (e.g., prevented from driving the running belt). The heart
rate contacts
432 may be structured to acquire data indicative of a heart rate or pulse of a
user of the
treadmill 10, 200. The hart rate contacts 432 may be disposed on the handrail
14, 214 or in any
other desired location on the treadmill 10, 200. The handrail switch assembly
433 includes
various switches, buttons, and the like disposed on the handrail 14, 214 that
are structured to
enable a user to provide one or more inputs to the treadmill 10, 200. For
example, the handrail
switch assembly 433 may enable a reception of a mode designation input (e.g.,
motorized
mode, non-motorized mode, brake mode, or torque mode). As another example, the
handrail
switch assembly 433 may enable a reception of a speed designation for
motorized mode (e.g., 7
MPH, etc.). As another example, the handrail switch assembly 433 may enable
reception an
incline setting (e.g., a setting that affects the incline of the treadmill
relative to a support
surface). As still another example, the handrail switch assembly 433 may
enable reception of a
resistance level in brake mode that controls the resistance a user experiences
rotating the
running belt 30, 230. As yet another example, the handrail switch assembly 433
may enable
reception of a torque assist setting that controls the assistance force
provided by the motor 151,
351 in torque mode. As still yet another example, the handrail switch assembly
433 may
enable a user to observe tracked data regarding operation of the treadmill 10,
200 (e.g., heart
rate, speed, duration, etc.). It should be understood that the handrail switch
assembly 433 may
include additional functionality beyond that mentioned above and herein, with
all such
additional or different functionality intended to fall within the scope of the
present disclosure
(e.g., turn the treadmill on or off, etc.). Further, in certain embodiments,
some of the
functionalities described above may be implemented via the display device 16
or 216 rather
than on buttons, switches, input devices and the like disposed on the handrail
14 or 214.
[0045] As shown, the display board 430 is communicably coupled to the
controller 450,
which is communicably coupled to the motor controller 440, which is
operatively coupled to
the motor 441. In this regard, the controller 450 may serve as an intermediary
between the
motor controller 440 and the display board 430. In operation, the motor
controller 440 may be
structured to control operation of the motor 441. The motor 441 may be
structured as the motor
151 when used with the treadmill 10. However, when used with the treadmill
200, the motor
441 may be structured as the motor 351. Thus, the motor 441 designation is
intended to be
17
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generic to both treadmill 10 and 200 implementations. While the display board
430 and motor
controller 440 are shown as separate components from the controller 450, this
is for exemplary
purposes only. In other embodiments, one, both, or portions thereof of the
display board 430
and motor controller 440 may be included with the controller 450. In this
regard and because
the motor controller 440 may be included with the controller 450, or because
the controller 450
may provide one or more instructions to the motor controller 440 to control
operation of the
motor 441, or because the controller 450 may directly control the motor 441
(e.g., a direct
instruction to the motor 441 from the controller 450), explanation herein may
be in regard to
the controller 450 performing various activities. However and based on the
foregoing, it should
be understood that execution of such activities may be direct (e.g., the
controller 450 directly
controlling the motor 441) or indirect (e.g., the controller 450 providing a
command to the
motor 440 to control the motor 441) with all such variations intended to fall
within the scope of
the present disclosure.
[0046] Accordingly and among various activities, the controller 450 may be
structured to
control implementation and operation of the operating modes for the treadmill
10 or treadmill
200. To accomplish these activities, the controller 450 may be structured as a
variety of
different types of controllers with one or more of a variety of components.
For example, the
controller 450 may include one or more processing circuits including one or
more processors
communicably coupled to one or more memory devices. The one or more processors
may be
implemented as any type of processor including an application specific
integrated circuit
(ASIC), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a digital signal
processor (DSP),
a group of processing components, or other suitable electronic processing
components. The
one or more memory devices (e.g., NVRAM, RAM, ROM, Flash Memory, hard disk
storage,
etc.) may store data and/or computer code for facilitating the various
processes described
herein. Thus, the one or more memory devices may be communicably connected to
the one or
more processors and provide computer code or instructions for executing the
processes
described in regard to the controller 450 herein. Moreover, the one or more
memory devices
may be or include tangible, non-transient volatile memory or non-volatile
memory.
Accordingly, the one or more memory devices may include database components,
object code
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components, script components, or any other type of information structure for
supporting the
various activities and information structures described herein.
[0047] One such example activity of the controller 450 includes adjustment of
a relative
incline of the treadmill 10 or treadmill 200. For example, and as shown, the
controller 450 is
coupled to an incline motor 460. The incline motor 460 is structured to adjust
a relative incline
of the treadmill 10 or treadmill 200 by moving, e.g., an extension of the
support feet from the
treadmill 10 or treadmill 200. An example structure and configuration of the
incline motor 460
and various related components and the functionalities associated therewith is
described in U.S.
Pat. App. No. 14/832,708. Further and as also shown, the controller 450 may be
communicably to one or more sensors, such as incline feedback sensor and
elevation limit
switch that may define boundaries of the allowable relative incline for the
treadmill 10 or
treadmill 200.
[0048] As mentioned above and another such example activity of the controller
450 includes
implementation of and control of the operating modes of the treadmill 10 and
200 described
herein. In this regard and as shown in the example of FIG. 14, the controller
450 may provide
instructions, directly or indirectly (e.g., via the motor controller 440) to
control and implement
the various operating modes of the treadmill 10 or treadmill 200.
100491 Before turning to an example control methodology for selectively
controlling
implementation of the operating modes as shown in FIG. 15, it should be
understood that the
electrical system 400 useable with either the treadmill 10 or treadmill 200 is
exemplary only.
In other embodiments, more, less, or different components may be included with
the electrical
system for one or both of the treadmills 10, 200. For example, in other
embodiments, various
additional filtering components may be used that smooth out and reduce noise
in the exchange
of data among and between the components. In another example, various
additional sensors
relative to the heart rate contacts 432 may also be implemented, such as a
weight sensor
structured to acquire data indicative of a weight of a user. Thus, those of
ordinary skill in the
art will appreciate and recognize that the system 400 is not meant to be
limiting as the present
disclosure contemplates additional configurations that are intended to fall
within the scope of
the present disclosure.
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[0050] Referring now to FIG. 15, an example control methodology for
implementing various
operating modes with a motorized treadmill is shown according to an example
embodiment.
Because the method 500 may be implemented with the treadmill 10 or treadmill
200, reference
may be made to one or more components of the treadmill 10 or 200 to aid
explanation.
[0051] At process 501, data indicative of powering a treadmill on is received.
In other words,
process 501 refers to turning the treadmill 10 or treadmill 200 on. Data
indicative of turning
the treadmill on may be based on an explicit user input, such as an "ON"
button on the handrail
switch assembly 433. Additionally or alternatively, data indicative of turning
the treadmill on
may be based on a determination of the controller 450. For example, weight
data indicative of
a user standing on the treadmill for more than a threshold amount of time may
indicate use or
potential use of the treadmill and turn the treadmill on. In another example,
the user may begin
to use the treadmill whereby movement of the running belt 30 or 230 causes the
treadmill to
turn ON.
[0052] At process 502, a mode selection is received. Upon a powering on of the
treadmill 10
or 200, the display device 16 or 216 presents an option to the user asking
them to select in
which mode to operate the treadmill 10 or 200. As mentioned above, the
operation modes
include: a non-motorized mode, a motorized mode, a brake mode, and a torque
mode. As also
mentioned above, in the non-motorized mode, the controller 450 disables a
holding torque of
the motor 151 or 351 to thereby allow the running belt 30 or 230 to
substantially freely rotate
(i.e., the motor provides no or little resistance to the rotational movement
of the running belt).
In the motorized mode, the controller 450 receives a running belt 30 or 230
speed designation
from a user and implements that running belt speed with the treadmill 10 or
200. For example,
the user may designate 6.5 miles-per-hour (MPH), which the controller 450 then
implements
with the motor to cause the running belt to rotate at 6.5 MPH. In this regard,
the controller 450
may include one or more formulas, algorithms, processes, look-up tables, and
the like for
converting a user defined speed to a motor 151 or 351 rotational speed. In the
brake mode, the
controller 450 is structured to control the motor 151 or 351 to apply a
braking force that resists
rotational movement of the running belt 30 or 230 caused by the user. In this
regard, the user
has to "fight" or "push" through the resistance exerted by the motor 151 or
351 to cause the
running belt 30 or 230 to rotate. The brake mode may be desired by users who
want to strength
CA 3029593 2020-03-17
train by increasing the resistance they experience in moving or turning the
belt 30 or 230. In
the torque mode, the controller 450 causes the motor 151 or 351 to implement a
user-defined
torque setting to provide an assistive force for the user to, in turn, cause
the running belt 30 or
230 to rotate relatively easier than, for example, in the non-motorized or
brake modes of
operation. Each of these modes are explained in more detail below.
[0053] At process 503, data regarding a secondary triggering mechanism is
received. In one
embodiment, the secondary triggering mechanism refers to the e-stop magnet
432. In this
regard, the data received by the controller 450 is indicative of the e-stop
magnet 432 being in
contact with a magnet to close the loop or circuit to, in turn, enable power
output from the
motor 151 or 351. In another embodiment, the triggering mechanism may refer to
any other
type of additional mechanism, relative to the ON/OFF mechanism of process 501,
to confirm
that the user wants to move forward with using the treadmill 10 or treadmill
200. In other
embodiments, process 503 may be omitted from the method 500.
[0054] In response to receiving an indication that the user desires to operate
the treadmill 10
or treadmill 200 in the non-motorized operation mode, process 510 is
initiated. The non-
motorized operation mode includes processes 511-515, which are explained
herein below.
[0055] At process 511, the non-motorized operation mode includes disabling a
motor
controller. Thus, in this example, the motor controller 441 is a separate
component relative to
the controller 450, such that the controller 450 may provide an instruction to
the motor
controller 440 to disable (e.g., turn off, disengage, etc.). In other
embodiments and as
mentioned above, the motor controller 440 may be included with the controller
450 such that
the controller 450 may selectively disable the motor controller component. In
yet other
embodiments, the motor controller may be removed from the system and the
controller 450 is
structured to perform the activities described herein of the motor controller
440, such that the
controller 450 can directly control the motor 151 or 351. All such variations
are intended to
fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0056] At process 512, a holding torque of the motor is disabled. The "holding
torque" refers
to the force or torque applied by the motor 151 or 351 to the running belt.
When the holding
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torque or force is disabled, the running belt 30 or 230 is allowed to freely
rotate. In this regard,
the motor 151 or 351 does not or substantially does not apply a torque to the
front shaft
assembly 70 of the treadmill 10 or to the rear shaft assembly 280 of the
treadmill 200. In this
regard, these shaft assemblies (e.g., the pulleys coupled thereto) may
substantially freely rotate
without having to overcome a force provided by the motor 151 or 351.
[0057] At process 513, the running belt is free to rotate. As depicted in
process 513, the
running belt 30 or running belt 230 is free to rotate in a forward direction
or in a reverse
direction. In this regard, the user can operate the treadmill 10 or treadmill
200 in a direction
where their strides move them towards the display device 16 or 216 despite
remaining
substantially longitudinally static due to the movement of the belt (i.e., the
forward direction).
Or, the user can face away from the display device 16 or 216 and walk, run,
jog, etc. away from
the display device 16 or 216 (e.g., the user's back faces the display
device)(i.e., the reverse
direction). For the sake of clarity, the forward direction corresponds with
the running belt 30
rotating counterclockwise based on the view point depicted in FIG. 1 while the
reverse
direction corresponds with the running belt 30 rotating clockwise based on the
viewpoint
depicted in FIG. 1. Because the running belt 30 or 230 is free to rotate in
each direction, in
another embodiment, the user may orient themselves along the longitudinal axis
18 or 218 such
that their feet are substantially perpendicularly oriented relative to the
display device 16 or 216.
In this case, the user can perform slides or shuffles (e.g., basketball lane
slides) in either of the
forward and reverse directions. Thus, a wide variety of exercises,
rehabilitation exercises, and
routines are applicable with the treadmill 10 or treadmill 200 due to the
capability of forward
and reverse running belt 30 or 230 directional rotation capability. It should
be understood that
in other embodiments, a one-way directional device, such as explained and
described in U.S.
Pat. App. No. 14/832,708 may be included with the treadmill 10 or treadmill
200. In this
regard, the one-way directional device (e.g., a one-way bearing) may cooperate
with at least
one of the front and rear shaft assemblies of the treadmill 10 or treadmill
200 to substantially
only permit rotation of at least one of the front and rear shaft assemblies in
only one direction
(e.g., only the forward direction or only the reverse direction).
[0058] At process 514, a speed value may be provided to the user. The "speed
value" refers
to a speed that the user is utilizing the treadmill 10 or treadmill 200 at
(e.g., 3 MPH, etc.). In
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this regard, the "speed" may be provided to the display device 16 or 216 to
enable the user to
see how fast he/she is causing the treadmill 10 or treadmill 200 to be
operated in this non-
motorized mode of operation. Of course, process 514 can also include the
providing of any
type of data to the user via the display device 16 or 216 (e.g., a heartrate
determination, time
duration, an incline of treadmill, etc.). Thus, process 514 is not meant to be
limiting to only the
providing of speed values.
[0059] At process 515, an exit command is determined to be received. The "exit
command"
refers to any type of command or instruction received by the treadmill 10 or
treadmill 200 that
causes the operation mode (in this case, the non-motorized operation mode) to
end. For
example, a user may provide an explicit instruction via the display device 16
or 216 or the
handrail switch assembly 433 ending their workout or injury rehabilitation
routine. As another
example, a user may simply stop moving, which causes the running belt 30 or
230 to stop
moving (because in non-motorized mode of operation the running belt 30 or 230
is driven by =
the user) and provides an indication after a threshold amount of time that the
user has ended use
of the treadmill 10 or 200. If the exit command is determined to be received
by the controller
450, the treadmill 10 or 200 is stopped (process 550). This may include
turning various
powered electronics off (e.g., display devices) to conserve energy. If the
exit command is
determined to not be received by the controller 450, the treadmill 10 or 200
may continue
operating in the designated mode of operation.
[0060] In response to receiving an indication that the user desires to operate
the treadmill 10
or treadmill 200 in the motorized operation mode, process 520 is initiated.
The motorized
operation mode includes processes 521-525, which are explained herein below.
[0061] At process 521, a forward or reverse belt rotation mode designation is
received. As
mentioned above and in this embodiment, the running belt 30 or 230 is
rotatable in either the
counterclockwise direction (i.e., forward direction) or clockwise direction
(i.e., reverse
direction)(based on the viewpoint of FIG. 1). In this regard and because this
mode of operation
corresponds with the motor 151 or 351 at least partly driving the running belt
30 or 230, the
motor 151 or 351 is structured to be able to rotate in each direction.
However, in other
embodiments (e.g., when a one-way directional device is utilized) when the
running belt 30 or
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230 is only capable of rotating one direction, a different type of motor may
be used that only
corresponds with that rotation direction. Thus, a variety of configurations
are possible with all
such configurations intended to fall within the scope of the present
disclosure. Upon
designation of the forward or reverse belt rotation direction, the controller
450 provides a
command to cause or eventually cause the motor 151 or 351 to operate in a
direction that
corresponds with the chosen or designated belt rotation direction.
[0062] At process 522, a speed selection is received. In this regard, the
controller 450, via the
display device 16 or 216 and/or through the handrail switch assembly 433,
receives an
indication of a desired speed of the running belt 30 or 230 in the designated
direction of process
521 (e.g., 5 MPH, etc.). This selection may correspond with the controller 450
directly or
indirectly through the motor controller 440 varying the current to the motor
151 or 351 to
control the speed of the motor 151 or 351 in accord with the selected speed.
100631 At process 523, an adjustment to a motor torque is selectively
implemented based on a
load on the treadmill. The "load" on the treadmill refers to the force that
the user is imparting
to the belt to at least partly cause the running belt to rotate. However, this
load may be
different than the force applied by the motor 151 or 351 in causing the
running belt 30 or 230 to
rotate at the selected speed of process 522. For example, if the user is
imparting a relatively
greater force to the running belt than the torque provided by the motor, the
running belt may
slip relative to the at least one of the front and rear running belt pulleys.
Thus, at process 523,
the controller 450 may control the torque output of the motor 151 or motor 351
to compensate
for the load applied to the treadmill to prevent or substantially prevent
various undesired
circumstances, such as slippage of the running belt. As a result and in use, a
relatively
smoother operation characteristic may be experienced.
[0064] At process 524, speed of the running belt is monitored and compared
relative to the
selected speed. In this regard, the controller 450 may utilized a closed-loop
control technique
that monitors the speed to ensure or substantially ensure the speed is at or
about the selected
speed.
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[0065] At process 525, an exit command is determined to be received. As
mentioned above,
the "exit command" refers to any type of command or instruction received by
the treadmill 10
or treadmill 200 that causes the operation mode (in this case, the motorized
operation mode) to
end. For example, the exit command may be an explicit instruction received
from the user
(e.g., the pressing of a stop button, the removal of the magnet from
contacting the e-stop
magnet contact, etc.). Or, as another example, the exit command may be an
implicit
instruction. For example, the user may have stepped off the treadmill, however
the motor is
still causing the running belt to rotate at substantially the selected speed
in the designated
direction. To prevent continued operation, a weight sensor may acquire data
indicative that no
load or weight is being applied to the running belt (or a weight or load below
a certain
predefined threshold) for a predefined amount of time and then turn the
treadmill off. Such an
action may be a back-up to the explicit instruction action. Like mentioned
above in process
510, if the exit command is determined to be received by the controller 450,
the treadmill 10 or
200 is stopped (process 550). This may include turning various powered
electronics off (e.g.,
display devices) to conserve energy. If the exit command is determined to not
be received by
the controller 450, the treadmill 10 or 200 may continue operating in the
designated mode of
operation.
[0066] In response to receiving an indication that the user desires to operate
the treadmill 10
or treadmill 200 in the brake mode of operation, process 530 is initiated. The
brake mode of
operation includes processes 531-535, which are explained herein below.
[0067] At process 531, a forward or reverse belt rotation mode designation is
received. In
this regard, process 531 is analogous to process 521.
[0068] At process 532, a motor speed is set to a threshold value. In one
embodiment, the
threshold value is zero revolutions-per-minute (RPM). In another embodiment,
the threshold
value is another value corresponding to less than a selected running belt
rotation speed. In this
regard, the controller 450 controls the motor 151 or 351 to not rotate (when
at zero RPM) to not
or substantially not drive or move the running belt 30 or 230.
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100691 At process 533, a holding torque of the motor is adjusted. The holding
torque refers to
the torque required or sufficient for rotating the output shaft of the motor
while the motor stays
energized. In this regard, the holding torque represents the resistance or
braking force applied
to the running belt 30 or 230 that may make rotation of the running belt
difficult or comparably
easier. Thus, the holding torque can be increased or decreased, whereby
increasing the holding
torque increases the torque required to rotate the output shaft of the motor
(e.g., increases a
resistance experienced by a user in moving the running belt) and decreasing
the holding torque
decreases the torque required to rotate the output shaft of the motor (e.g.,
reduces a resistance
experienced by a user in moving the running belt). In operation, a holding
torque level (e.g., an
indicator such as a numerical value, or a scale value (1/10), etc.) may be
presented to a user on
the display device 16 or 216. In response, the user may, via the handrail
switch assembly 433
or one or more buttons on the display device 16 or 216 increase or decrease
the holding torque.
As a result, the force or load imparted by the user onto the running belt 30
or 230 that is
required to rotate the running belt 30 or 230 in the designated direction may
vary to affect the
resistance experienced by the user. For example, a user who desires a high
resistance workout
may increase the holding torque to a maximum amount or near maximum amount. In
comparison, a user who desires a relatively low resistance workout may
decrease the holding
torque to a relatively low value. In each instance, the user must overcome the
holding torque to
cause the running belt 30 or 230 rotate in the designated direction.
100701 At process 534, the motor maintains the threshold value of motor speed
in response to
the adjusted holding torque. For example, the motor 151 or 351 may continue to
hold the
output shaft at zero RPM yet adjust the torque output to correspond with the
designated holding
torque level or value. Due to the characteristics of the motor 151 or 351
(e.g., the brushless DC
motor shown in FIG. as 441), the torque and speed of the motor may be related.
As such, there
may be variance in the threshold value of motor speed in response to
adjustment of the holding
torque. In any event, by holding the motor speed to a low value (e.g., zero
RPM), the motor
151 or 351 substantially does not drive the running belt 30 or 230. Rather,
the user drives the
running belt by overcoming the holding torque of the motor 151 or 351 to cause
rotation or
movement. Such a characteristic may be beneficial for users seeking to
strength train.
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[0071] At process 535, an exit command is determined to be received. As
mentioned above,
the "exit command" refers to any type of command or instruction received by
the treadmill 10
or treadmill 200 that causes the operation mode (in this case, the brake mode
of operation) to
end. Process 535 may be substantially similar to process 525, such that the
same, similar,
additional, or different explicit and implicit data may be used to determine
whether an exit
command was received. If the exit command is determined to be received by the
controller
450, the treadmill 10 or 200 is stopped (process 550). This may include
turning various
powered electronics off (e.g., display devices) to conserve energy. If the
exit command is
determined to not be received by the controller 450, the treadmill 10 or 200
may continue
operating in the designated mode of operation.
[0072] In response to receiving an indication that the user desires to operate
the treadmill 10
or treadmill 200 in the torque mode of operation, process 540 is initiated.
The torque mode of
operation includes processes 541-545, which are explained herein below.
[0073] At process 541, a forward or reverse belt rotation mode designation is
received. In
this regard, process 541 is analogous to processes 521 and 531.
[0074] At process 542, a holding torque of the motor is disabled. In this
regard, the controller
450 either directly or through the motor controller 440 provides a command to
disable the
holding torque. In this regard, the output shaft 152 of the motor 151 and
output shaft 352 of the
motor 351 are free to rotate. As such, no or little resistance from the motor
151 or motor 351 is
being provided to the shaft assemblies and, in turn, to the running belt 30
and 230. Therefore,
the running belt 30 and 230 is substantially able to freely rotate in the
designated rotation
direction.
[0075] At process 543, a torque assistance setting is received. The "torque
assistance setting"
refers to a value, setting, indicator, etc. used to control a torque output
from the motor. In this
regard, a higher torque assistance setting may correspond with a higher torque
output from the
motor (up to a maximum or substantial maximum amount per the specifications of
the motor).
The torque assistance setting may be received from a user via the display
device 16 or 216 or
via the handrail switch assembly 433. As an example, up/down arrows may be
provided on the
27
CA 3029593 2020-03-17
display device 16 or 216 whereby a user can adjust the torque assistance
setting by moving the
up/down arrows. In operation and based on the received torque assistance
setting, motor 151 or
351 provides a torque output in the corresponding designated running belt 30
or 230 designated
direction (process 544). The torque output helps or aids the user rotate the
running belt 30 or
230. Such an action reduces the effort required of the user to operate the
treadmill 10 or 200
(i.e., move the running belt 30 or 230). Therefore, such an action may be
appealing to those
rehabilitating injuries, elderly users, fitness beginners, and the like.
[0076] At process 545, an exit command is determined to be received. As
mentioned above,
the "exit command" refers to any type of command or instruction received by
the treadmill 10
or treadmill 200 that causes the operation mode (in this case, the torque mode
of operation) to
end. Process 545 may be substantially similar to process 535, such that the
same, similar,
additional, or different explicit and implicit data may be used to determine
whether an exit
command was received. If the exit command is determined to be received by the
controller
450, the treadmill 10 or 200 is stopped (process 550). This may include
turning various
powered electronics off (e.g., display devices) to conserve energy. If the
exit command is
determined to not be received by the controller 450, the treadmill 10 or 200
may continue
operating in the designated mode of operation.
[0077] As utilized herein, the terms "approximately," "about,"
"substantially," and similar
terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and
accepted usage
by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this
disclosure pertains. It
should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure
that these terms are
intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed
without restricting the
scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly,
these terms
should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential
modifications or
alterations of the subject matter described and are considered to be within
the scope of the
disclosure.
[0078] It should be noted that the term "exemplary" as used herein to describe
various
embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible
examples,
28
CA 3029593 2020-03-17
representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term
is not intended to
connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative
examples).
[0079] For the purpose of this disclosure, the term "coupled" means the
joining of two
members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary
or moveable in
nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members
and any
additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary
body with one
another or with the two members or the two members and any additional
intermediate members
being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may
be removable
or releasable in nature.
[0080] It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ
according to
other exemplary embodiments and that such variations are intended to be
encompassed by the
present disclosure.
[0081] It is important to note that the constructions and arrangements of the
manual treadmill
as shown in the various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although
only a few
embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in
the art who
review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are
possible (e.g.,
variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the
various elements,
values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,
orientations, etc.)
without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the
subject matter
recited in the claims. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be
constructed of
multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or
otherwise varied, and
the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or
varied. The order or
sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced
according to
alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and
omissions may also
be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various
exemplary
embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0082] Additional information that may prove useful to the reader may be found
in the
following applications that are available to the public: U.S. Patent
Application No. 14/941,342,
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filed November 13, 2015; U.S. Patent Application No. 14/517,478, filed October
17, 2014;
U.S. Patent Application No. 13/257,038, filed September 16, 2011;
International Application
No. PCT/US2010/026731, filed March 9, 2010; U.S. Provisional Application
Serial No.
61/161,027, filed March 17, 2009; U.S. Patent Application No. 62/237,990,
filed October 6,
2015; U.S. Patent Application No. 14/832,708, filed August 21, 2015; U.S.
Patent Application
No. 14/076,912, filed November 11, 2013; U.S. Patent Application No.
13/235,065, filed
September 16, 2011; and International Application No. PCT/US10/27543, filed
March 16,
2010.
CA 3029593 2020-03-17
